I've read through most of the entries on this already, but just getting more and more confused.

We live in the desert. The reason I'm making this king sized quilt is because my dh requested one for our bed to replace the down comforter for summer. I already ordered king sized Warm and Natural, but from what I can glean, this may be too warm for my purposes, and I didn't realize that it would shrink.

What would you recommend? We want it light, and I don't really want a lot of shrinkage. I see talk of flannel as an alternative. Would I just go and buy 6 yards or so of flannel, whip it together and use it?

If you are trying to avoid shrinkage, the flannel will need to be prewashed. Some folks even say to wash flannel more than once to get all the shrinking done before using it as batting.

I don't find Warm and Natural to be overly hot, but in the desert it might be too much for you. As for the shrinkage on W&N, it gives the quilt a soft crinkled "antique" look which I love. Some people do not care for that look at all. It's a personal preference kind of think. W&N can be prewashed, also, so it won't crinkle your quilt.

From what I understand, I think you want a low loft (like 2oz.) batting. so it gives it that quilt feel, but is very lightweight. The only other thing I can think is don't put any batting in it! Make your top and put your backing on it, it will make it a lovely cover for your bed while feeling like a glorified sheet when sleeping under it.

I would not recommend flannel, particularly for your location. Cotton is the best bet, because it breaths allowing air to get through. Any of the blends, soy-cotton, bambo-cottonj or the old standby, 80-20 would work fine.

Of course we don't live in the desert here in Northern Germany but sometimes we also have a hot summer here! A very good friend of mine uses silk batting a lot for her quilts and she really suggests that for winter and summer time! Silk seems to adapt the right temperature.

I live in the Phoenix area, and I used Warm and Natural for our bed quilt. The quilt doesn't feel particularly warm or heavy, but we sleep with the fan on. Also, I did not pre-wash the batting and after washing the quilt, nothing shrank.